Salmon Study Makes Waves at Way Elementary School

This spring, the Way Elementary main lobby was home to an unusual group of visitors: dozens of tiny salmon swimming in a large fish tank. These fish were part of a unique project in Brad Davison’s grade 3 class: a hands-on lesson in animal life cycles and the ecology of the Great Lakes. 

The project began with 150 salmon eggs, many of which successfully hatched into alevin, small fish with attached yolk sacs to provide nutrients. Eventually the yolk sacs were absorbed and the fish entered a phase called fry, fully formed but still small in size. It’s not often that students personally witness such changes in an animal’s life cycle. When asked their favorite part of the project, Kiaan Khemani (grade 3) said, “I liked seeing the salmon growing up from a green egg all the way to 3 or 4 inches.” Classmate Layla Jandali (grade 3) added, “Right before they hatched, we could see their eyes - those black dots on the eggs.” 

Students learned that salmon were purposefully introduced to the Great Lakes in 1966 to control the population of alewives, an invasive small species of herring. They learned about the relationships between predators and prey, and how too many alewives in the Great Lakes began to cause ecological damage. They discussed how all animal species can have genetic differences, and many do not survive each stage of the life cycle. For example, students noted that some eggs never hatched, and others did hatch but had unique characteristics like no eyes, or were larger or smaller than average. 

When it came to teaching about life cycles, Davison saw the opportunity to bring a piece of Michigan’s rural outdoors into his suburban classroom. “I think it’s important that students not only learn life cycles,” said Davison, “but also develop an enjoyment of the outdoors and experience all that Michigan has to offer.” 

The project came to an end on Thursday, May 15, as Davison and some of his students successfully released about 75 live salmon into the Clinton River. The salmon will journey through the river and ultimately complete their life cycles in the Great Lakes.